A US judge dismissed two federal criminal cases against President-elect Donald Trump on Monday, including one related to his attempts to overturn the 2020 election results and another concerning the illegal retention of classified documents, Reuters reports.
The decision came after prosecutors, citing a longstanding Justice Department policy against prosecuting a sitting president, moved to drop the charges. The policy, dating back to the 1970s, asserts that prosecuting a sitting president would undermine their ability to govern. The dismissal represents a significant legal victory for Trump, who won the November 2024 election and is set to return to office in January 2025.
Special Counsel Jack Smith had led the cases accusing Trump of election interference and mishandling classified documents. Smith’s team emphasized that the dismissal was due to the policy, not the merits of the case. Prosecutors have the possibility of revisiting the charges after Trump leaves office but noted challenges due to the time elapsed.
Trump remains involved in ongoing legal cases, including a conviction in New York involving hush money payments and a stalled case in Georgia related to election interference.
